Michelia plant named &#39;MICJUR05&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Michelia  cultivar named ‘MICJUR05’ is disclosed, characterized by having a pyramidal, moderately compact growth habit and abundant, fragrant, clear white flowers. Plants begin flowering in late Winter, and continue flowering for 12 weeks. The new variety is a  Michelia , normally produced as a small ornamental tree or shrub.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Michelia yunnanensis×doltsopu

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘MICJUR05’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety resulted from a crossing performed in 1995 in North Taranaki, Nth Is, New Zealand. The seed parent is the unpatented variety, Michelia yunnanensis ‘Velvet and Cream’. The pollen parent is the unpatented variety Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’. ‘The new variety was first selected in 1999, by the inventor, Mark Jury at a commercial nursery in North Taranaki, New Zealand.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ by vegetative cuttings was first in performed in 2004 at a commercial nursery in New Zealand and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MICJUR05’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MICJUR05’ as a new and distinct Michelia cultivar:

1. Medium sized evergreen shrub or tree.

2. Late Winter/Early Spring flowering

3. Pyramidal growth habit.

4. Moderately dense growth.

5. Clear white flowers.

6. Strong fragrance to flowers.

7. Usefulness as a street tree, hedge, topiary or specimen tree.

8. Bronze underside to foliage

8. Long flowering season.

9. Large quantity of flowers.

10. Good lastingness of flowers

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Michelia yunnanensis. ‘Velvet and Cream’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ have larger flowers and larger foliage. Additionally, plants of the new variety produce flowers with more fragrance than those of the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar are much shorter overall, and have a more controlled growth habit. Additionally, the new variety has a different floral scent. ‘MICJUR05’ can be grown from cuttings, whereas ‘Silver Cloud’ requires grafting or budding.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Michelia hybrid ‘MICJUR02’, U.S. Plant Patent Application Ser. No. 13/987,703 in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar differ in the following characteristics:

1. ‘MICJUR05’ has larger flowers.

2. ‘MICJUR05’ has larger foliage.

3. ‘MICJUR05’ begins flowering earlier in the season.

4. ‘MICJUR05’ has less glossy foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘MICJUR05’ grown outdoors. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 5 years from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowers of ‘MICJUR05’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘MICJUR05’ plants grown outdoors in New Zealand. Growing conditions are similar to USDA Zone 7. Age of the plants when described is approximately 4 years old. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Michelia yunnanensis×doltsopa ‘MICJUR05’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 60 days at approximately 21°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 120 days at 21° C.         -   Root description.—Typical Michelia root, thick, coarse,             colored near RHS White 155A. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Pyramidal shaped medium sized evergreen shrub             or tree.         -   In a container or in the ground.—Ground.         -   Height.—Approximately 4 meters after 12 years.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 3.8 meters after 12 years.         -   Stem diameter.—Approximately 20 cm after 12 years.         -   Branching characteristics.—Depends upon cultural techniques.             Without pruning, a Normally a single trunk tree with lateral             branches forming at acute angles to the trunk. With pruning,             plants can be grown as large shrubs.         -   Individual branch characteristics (of 1 year old             tree).—Length: up to 25 cm Diameter: up to 0.5 cm Texture:             Smooth Color: Near RHS 197B.         -   Trunk.—Diameter: Approximately 20 cm. after 12 years.             Measured approximately 10 cm above the ground. Texture:             Smooth Color: Near RHS 197B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Mixed alternate, and occasionally             opposite. Average Length: Approximately 13.0 to 15.0 cm.             Average Width: Approximately 6.5 to 7.0 cm. Shape of blade:             Elliptic Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base: Rounded. Margin:             Entire. Texture of top surface: Smooth, with glossy             appearance. Texture of lower surface: Smooth. Leaf internode             length: Approximately 3 cm. Color: Mature foliage upper             side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.         -   Foliage.—Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C Venation color under side: Near             RHS Yellow-Green 144B Petiole: Not present, sessile. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering begins late Winter to             early Spring. Lasts approximately 12 weeks.         -   Begins flowering after how many years/months.—1.5 to 2 years             after planting an unrooted cutting.         -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Solitary occurring, rotate.             Flowers have a flattened concave aspect in the upper             profile, and flattened convex aspect in the lower profile.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Profuse, approximately 1500 per tree or             shrub.         -   Individual flower size.—Diameter: Approximately 13.0 to             14.0 cm. Depth: Approximately 6 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 0.6 to 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Color:             Near RHS Greyed-Orange 167A Texture: Soft velvety             pubescence.         -   Pedicel.—Not present.         -   Petals.—Petal arrangement: 9 to 13 whorled, overlapping.             Shape: Elliptic Size: Length: 7.0 to 8.0 cm. Width: 2.5 to             3.5 cm. Margin: Entire Apex: Acute Base: Rounded Petal             quantity: Approximately 9 to 13. Texture: Smooth, all             surfaces.         -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White             Ni 55D, basal spot Orange-White 159A Lower surface: Near RHS             White N155D Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS White             N155D, basal spot Orange-White 159A Lower surface: Near RHS             White N155D Color Changes when aging: Upper surface: Near             RHS White N I 55D, base Yellow-Green 154C. Lower surface:             Near RHS White N155D.         -   Bud.—Shape: Ovate to linear. Length: Approximately 2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1 cm. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange             166B.         -   Sepals/tepals.—Not Present.         -   Fragrance.—Noticeable, pleasant fragrance. -   Reproduction organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: Approximately 23. Filament length:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Filament color: Near RHS Orange-White             159A.         -   Anthers.—Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Shape: Linear. Color:             Near RHS Orange-White 159A.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Approximately 2 cm. Style: Length:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A when             immature. Matures to Greyed-Orange 166B. Pollen: Quantity:             Moderate. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 163B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—The new cultivar sets a small amount of             seed irregularly. Fruit Color: Begins near RHS Green             Yellow-Green 144C, changes to Brown 200B before dropping off             before mature. Seed Size: Approximately 0.7 cm long, 0.2 cm             wide. Colored Browtn 200B.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Michelia             have been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety is suitable for             growing in USDA zones 7b through 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Michelia plant named ‘MICJUR05’ as herein illustrated and described. 